Chapter 1

The day Adrian Valentino chose to get engaged to his beloved was the exact day I got shipped off to Boston.

He told his fiancée, "Gianna's got a feral streak. You're sweet-tempered. She stays in Boston. She doesn't come back."

Our friends panicked. They thought I'd fly back to New York overnight, crying and making a scene.

What they didn't know was that I wouldn't cry. And I wouldn't go back.

Before leaving for Boston, I said yes to someone else's proposal.

In two weeks, I'd be married.

Before the wedding, I shipped every gift Adrian had given me over ten years back to New York.

Including the ring I once loved like it was part of me.

Then I put on the plain wedding band another man gave me.

***

The last time I confessed my feelings to Adrian Valentino.

I made a fool of myself.

The VIP room at the family's private club was packed.

Dead silence. No one said a word.

Minutes dragged by.

It was Summer, sitting beside him, who finally stood up to smooth things over.

"Come on, Adrian. You're embarrassing Gianna like this."

"She's still just a kid."

A scoff from the corner. "A twenty-one-year-old kid. Right."

Scattered laughter spread through the room.

I stood there, stubborn, refusing to flee. Refusing to look beaten.

But the sight of Adrian blurred.

"Gianna. How much uglier do you want me to make this?"

Adrian tapped the ash off his cigar and rose to his feet.

"I turned you down clearly when you were sixteen."

My throat tightened. "But you got furious when I dated that senior guy."

"That's because you carry the Valentino name. You're mine."

"You go out there causing trouble, it's my face you're slapping. My trust you're destroying."

"And the kiss on my eighteenth birthday?"

The faintest flicker of disgust crossed Adrian's eyes.

"Gianna, you were wasted that night. You had the whole family in an uproar."

"I just wanted it over with."

A laugh broke out of me.

But the more I laughed, the harder the tears fell.

"Adrian, you've had four girlfriends."

"And every single time, I just had to cry and throw a fit, and you'd dump them."

"All these years, you're telling me you felt nothing? Not even a little?"

"Because I hadn't met the one I actually wanted yet."

Adrian pulled Summer into his arms.

"Gianna, listen closely. I'm only saying this once."

"I love Summer. I'm marrying her."

"Those little tricks of yours won't work this time."

Summer gazed up at him, face glowing with shy delight. "Adrian..."

Adrian didn't hesitate. He kissed her.

Summer wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, on her toes.

The kiss was deep, hungry, like no one else existed.

And in that moment, all I could think of was the kiss on my eighteenth birthday.

Just as deep. Just as long.

Enough to fuel a four-year dream I never woke up from.

Stupid enough to believe he might actually love me.